First Tee – Greater Houston National Opportunity Selection Process
Each year, First Tee – Greater Houston is invited to nominate a limited number of participants to apply for First Tee National Opportunities—once-in-a-lifetime experiences designed to support personal growth, leadership, and life skills development through golf. Our National Opportunities Selection Process begins at the end of September and will run until mid-November. Because each chapter is limited in the number of applicants they can submit, we have a selection process to help us identify the most eligible and prepared candidates.
Step 1: Initial Candidate Interest Video
Active ACE participants will receive an initial email by the end of September outlining the full selection process and instructions to complete Step 1.
Step 2: Selection Week Invitation
Following Step 1, FTGH staff will review all submissions and select the top candidates to move forward. These candidates will be invited to participate in the required FTGH National Opportunity Selection Week.
Step 3: FTGH National Opportunity Selection Week Overview
During National Opportunity Selection Week, candidates will participate in opportunity-specific interviews and evaluations scheduled throughout the week. Each National Opportunity follows its own format and timeline.
Selection Guidelines
- Eligibility: Participants must be at least 14 years old by the date of the National Opportunity and have been active in our chapter for at least 2 years by the application deadline.
- Participants may only apply to a maximum of two (2) National Opportunities, even if they originally selected three (3) as their top choices.
- If a participant has previously attended a specific National Opportunity, they are not eligible to attend the same one again.
- Final candidates are selected based on a combination of their essay scores, interview performance, and involvement in First Tee (class attendance, session history, junior mentoring, etc.).
Final Notes
We understand this may be your first time hearing about this process, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. The National Opportunities are highly competitive and valuable experiences that offer personal growth, leadership development, and the chance to represent First Tee – Greater Houston on a national stage.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Coach Nick at [email protected].
